Self-Acceptance In Beowulf

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When someone hears the word “hero”, usually they think of someone who is brave and strong, and who everyone looks up to. This novel redefines the word “hero”, in which a hero is now someone who does something that someone else would never dare to do, and this action makes a difference in everyone’s lives. They all have unique characteristics, but in some way those characteristics define that person as a hero. In this book, Beowulf, a hero who is known for his goodness and daring, decides to go to the land of the Danes to try and defeat Grendel, a monster that no one else can defeat. After this defeat, Grendel’s mother attacks for revenge of her son’s death, and Beowulf vanquishes her too, returning home the next day. Everyone remembers him …show more content…
In a conversation between Beowulf, Hrothgar, and Wealhtheow, they disprove Unferth by acknowledging that while apples contain evil, humans also contain both good and evil within. Commenting on Beowulf’s character, Wealhtheow states that Beowulf “is trying to show us that in order to overcome evil, we have to admit to a little bit of it in ourselves” (29). This demonstrates the heroic trait of self-acceptance because Beowulf is willing to admit and even embrace his flaws. Most people would attempt to hide their flaws or minimize their significance. Because Beowulf does the opposite, it sets him apart from other individuals and conveys his heroic nature. Self-acceptance is later seen in Beowulf: A New Telling after Beowulf defeats Grendel’s Mother. While discussing potential celebration after defeating Grendel’s Mother, Beowulf remains humble by stating that he felt “wounded...by [his] own bad” (76). Often times individuals in the same scenario would be expected to boast or seek out celebration for their accomplishments. Instead, Beowulf remains humble and accepts his physical limitations. This proves he is heroic because he acts out of his own goodness, not for the expected fame or fortune. Throughout Beowulf’s eating the apples and his humble nature after his victory, it is clear that self-acceptance is a heroic trait in
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